Seth Jones: ‘I just want to compete in the playoffs every year’

The Chicago Blackhawks were back at the Fifth Arena this morning as they prepared for a busy weekend. They return to game action tomorrow night at the Columbus Blue Jackets before returning home to host the Toronto Maple Leafs on Sunday. The Blackhawks had their entire healthy squad back, as Teuvo Teravainen rejoined the team after representing Finland at the 4 Nations Face-Off.

Seth Jones Talks Trade…Again

On Thursday, Seth Jones created quite a stir when he revealed that his agent and the Blackhawks have had some “back and forth” discussions about a trade. As you would imagine, the beat reporters were looking for the veteran defenseman as soon as practice ended. Jones, as always, was ready to talk about his situation honestly.

“I’m 30 years old and still have some good years ahead,” he said. “I hope to be in a situation where I’m competing for a Stanley Cup – playing meaningful games into May and June. That’s where I’m at right now. Discussing things with my agent. There are a lot of moving parts with something like this.”

It’s easy to understand why Jones feels this way. When former general manager Stan Bowman acquired him in 2021 and signed him to an eight-year contract extension, the Blackhawks were looking to stay competitive. They had also brought in Jake McCabe and Marc-Andre Fleury and added them to a roster that included Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, Alex DeBrincat, and Brandon Hagel. We all remember how that season went with the eventual resignation of Bowman and the organization’s decision to tear it down and start over.

“I’ve been here the past four years, probably the darkest times the Blackhawks have seen in a while,” he said. “I think things are moving up. They are moving forward. But I think my timeline might be different than Kyle’s and the Blackhawks’. I’m not holding it against anyone, what they decided to do here, but sometimes it’s not in everyone’s plans.”

Meaningful Games are Important

Jones admitted that the topic of a trade has come up over time in discussions with his agent, Pat Brisson. He decided to open up about it to get in front of it. The veteran blueliner knows that this isn’t something that will be easy and isn’t sure when it will happen, if it does at all. He ensured that as long as he’s a Blackhawk, he’ll give a full 100% effort every night. When asked where he’d like to play, Jones didn’t have a particular team in mind, but he knows the type of franchise he desires.

“I just want to compete in the playoffs every year and give myself an opportunity to play meaningful games,” he said. “Whether that’s this year, next year, or the year after, whenever it is. A team that’s not in a rebuild and has pieces already to it and is ready to go. That’s where I want to go.

Interim head coach Anders Sorensen isn’t worried about this becoming a distraction in the locker room. He knows what Jones is capable of, and that’s the expectation for however long he’s with the team.

“He’s a pro,” Sorensen said. “He’s been great the last couple of weeks. He’s found his game again. He’s very well-liked in the locker room, so I don’t see an issue there.”

It will be difficult for the Blackhawks to move Jones’ contract before the March 7 trade deadline. The Blackhawks have many factors to weigh before making this decision. Is it worth retaining salary for the next five years, or is Jones more valuable on the roster? Can you find a deal where no salary retention is necessary? Are your young players ready to step up and fill the void Jones leaves behind if traded? These are all difficult questions Kyle Davidson must address in any trade discussion. In the meantime, check our Trade Deadline Hub for new updates as we get closer to the big day.